"Skylune" wrote

I asked, would that 7.8 hours (vs. 16 hours for air carrier)be in a C-152
("Fear Me!") or a high performance plane?

7.8 hrs seems quite high unless you're talking about a C150.

I then asked what would happen to the 7.8 hours if the
unthinkable happened e.g. low clouds developed, or nightfall occurred.

Depends on the capabilities of the pilot and the aircraft.

Finally, I mentioned that many people I know of take the shuttle to DC for
business meetings, and return home the same day, in much less than 16
hours, travel time included.

Depends on where you're going. Quite often I fly into small GA airports
near my customers - who are also usually more than happy to pick me up -
when the nearest large commercial airport would have been 2 or more hours'
drive away from my destination.

Then I asked how much it costs to fly GA vs. commercial

Depends on what you're flying, where you're going, and how much your time
and convenience are worth to you.

I would much rather travel by light airplane than by commercial airlines and
it really isn't totally related to being a pilot. There is much less
hassle, you are on your own schedule, you can almost always land within a
30-minute drive or less of your destination, and you can save lots of time
and mental fatigue.

It is also much easier to bring things along on the trip when you fly
yourself than it is to take them on the airlines.

Have I cancelled trips due to weather? - Yes. The airlines cancel lots of
flights too, for various reasons. But, I have also been able to land,
refuel, and depart on my happy way when the airlines were forced to circle
while waiting for the reported weather to improve.